Seals for high temperature reactive material devices

Abstract

The disclosure provides seals for devices that operate at elevated temperatures and have reactive metal vapors, such as lithium, sodium or magnesium. In some examples, such devices include energy storage devices that may be used within an electrical power grid or as part of a standalone system. The energy storage devices may be charged from an electricity production source for later discharge, such as when there is a demand for electrical energy consumption.

1 .- 50 . (canceled) 
     
     
         51 . A high-temperature device, comprising:
 a container comprising an internal cavity, wherein the internal cavity comprises a reactive material, and wherein the reactive material is maintained at a temperature of at least about 200° C.;   a seal that seals the internal cavity of the container from an environment external to the container, wherein the seal comprises a ceramic component, and wherein the seal is exposed to both the reactive material and the environment external to the container;   a conductor that extends from the environment external to the container through the seal to the internal cavity of the container; and   a metal sleeve coupled to the conductor and to the ceramic component, wherein the metal sleeve is coupled to the ceramic component by a braze joint comprising a braze, and wherein the braze is formed of a material that is substantially unreactive to air and prevents diffusion of air into the container when the reactive material is maintained at the temperature of at least about 200° C. for a time period of at least about 1 day.   
     
     
         52 . The high-temperature device of  claim 51 , wherein the braze is ductile. 
     
     
         53 . The high-temperature device of  claim 51 , further comprising an internal braze and wherein the internal braze is in contact with and protects the braze from the reactive material. 
     
     
         54 . The high-temperature device of  claim 53 , wherein the internal braze is an active metal braze. 
     
     
         55 . The high-temperature device of  claim 51 , wherein the diffusion of air into the container is of at most about 1×10 −8  atmosphere-cubic centimeters per second. 
     
     
         56 . The high-temperature device of  claim 51 , wherein the braze is an alloy of at least two different metals. 
     
     
         57 . The high-temperature device of  claim 51 , wherein the high-temperature device is a battery, and wherein the battery comprises a negative electrode, a positive electrode, and a liquid electrolyte. 
     
     
         58 . The high-temperature device of  claim 57 , wherein at least one of the negative electrode and the positive electrode is a liquid metal electrode. 
     
     
         59 . The high-temperature device of  claim 57 , wherein the liquid electrolyte is a molten halide electrolyte. 
     
     
         60 . The high-temperature device of  claim 57 , wherein the positive electrode comprises a solid metal or metalloid. 
     
     
         61 . The high-temperature device of  claim 51 , further comprising a shield coupled to the conductor, wherein the shield is configured to (i) reduce a flow of vapor from the reactive material to the seal or (ii) reduce a flow of ions along a surface of the conductor to the seal. 
     
     
         62 . The high-temperature device of  claim 61 , wherein the shield extends a distance from the conductor that is greater than or equal to about a width of the conductor. 
     
     
         63 . The high-temperature device of  claim 51 , wherein the ceramic component comprises aluminum and nitrogen. 
     
     
         64 . The high-temperature device of  claim 63 , wherein the ceramic component further comprises greater than or equal to about 3 weight percent of a material comprising yttrium and oxygen. 
     
     
         65 . The high-temperature device of  claim 51 , wherein the braze comprises silver, titanium, or nickel. 
     
     
         66 . The high-temperature device of  claim 65 , wherein the braze comprises titanium and one or more members selected from the group consisting of zirconium, copper, and nickel. 
     
     
         67 . The high-temperature device of  claim 65 , wherein the braze comprises nickel and one or more members selected from the group consisting of chromium, silicon, boron, and iron. 
     
     
         68 . The high-temperature device of  claim 65 , wherein the braze comprises silver, and wherein the ceramic component comprises a physical ion blocker on a surface of the ceramic component. 
     
     
         69 . The high-temperature device of  claim 51 , further comprising an additional metal sleeve coupled to the ceramic component and (i) the container or (ii) a collar joined to the container.